The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-07-14
An Explanation.
OFFICE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
ANDERSON, s, c., July s, 1887

Mr.. EDITOR: respectfully ask small
space in the columns of your valuable
paper to make statement of the way we
conduct part of the business in our office,
as it appears that the Grand Jury at the
last term of Court formed III erroneous
idea of the same, which is calculated to
mislead public sentiment. They based
their criticism on mere opinion instead of
tbs solid facts.
In referring to the management of the
business in our Office, they commence by
saying:
"We are not altogether satisfied with the
methods pursued in the County Commits
sioners Office. We think the accounts against
the County are approved without sufficient
investigation of their correctness, and es.
pecially is this the case in the department
of repairing bridges and highways, and We
would recommend that such accounts be
required to be itemized, so as to show the
quantity and class of material used and
labor per formed"
In answer to the above, we would beg
leave to inform the public that there is
very little public work done of any kind
without the Commissioners are first inform-
ed Of the amount of work wanted, and as
a rule special contract is then made-ei-
their public or private-in which the class
and quantity of material to be used is spe'
Gifted, after which the work, when COM
pleted, is inspected by one or more of the
members of our Board. Where this is the
case there is no need of an itemized ac-
count. Where there is no special contract,
and the amount is small our calculation is
always based on itemized statements of the
class and quantity of material used and
amount of labor performed, &c. This has
been our general practice for the past two
years. We closely examine all claims pre-
sented for payment before approving them,
and if any doubt is entertained as to their
correctness, they lay over until informa-
ton is fully obtained as to their correctness
before acting on them.
At our first regular meeting in last JAM
uary We made rule not to audit any more
accounts where there was no special con-
tract, unless they were itemized and sworn
to. That rule has been strictly adhered to
ever since. There are claims now in our
Office that have been there for the past six
months which have not been approved be-
cause they are not itemized, and they will
not be approved by us until they arc item.
lied.
Had the Grand Jury examined the claims
presented for payment since the first of JAM
uary last they must have known our pres
ent practice. So, Mr.. Editor, you see that
there is nothing new to us in the recon-
mendation of the Grand Jury, as We have
already been acting on it before the Grand
Jury was organized for this year.
MANAGEMENT OF THE POOR HOUSE.
Tie Grand Jury also recommend that the
Steward of the poor house be required to
make the County Commissioners month
ly report of the provisions, clothing and
other articles purchased and expenses in the
conduct of the poor house during that
month. This has not been done by any of
the previous Stewards, nor does the law re-
ouire it, but the recommendation is very
nearly the present practice. The Steward
at the poor house keeps all itemized account
of the expenses for each month. When he
buys any article for the poor house he gets
d bill from the merchant from whom the
goods are purchased and files il in our
Office. This has been our practice ever
since January, 1854. In addition to That
We compare bills when presented for pay
nent with those bills on file in our office rs
furnished by the Steward.
The following statement will show the
average expense per day OH each panper,
including the Stewards salary, medical
treatment, including medicine, farm labor,
etc. Full amount of expense s2,161.15,
which is an average Of 424 cents per day
for each pauper. Of this amount $500
may be deducted for medical treatment and
medicine furnished the Jail, which would
make the average about 13a cents per head
daily.
The Grand Jury also complains about tile
amount of tobacco used at the poor house,
and recommend the tobacco rations be re-
duced. All paupers that use tobacco have
it issued to them, some getting one plug
and others only half q plug each week and
no more. This tobacco costs cents per
plug. About thirty use tobacco, and at that
rale it costs about $1,000 year. This is
moderate allowance Of tobacco, and when
the presentment was read his Honor Judge
Aldrich took OCCASION to say to the Grand
Jury that he did not agree with them in
recommending o reduction in the tobacco
issued 10 the palpers. The poor house with
the same number of paupers cannot be run
with less expense at the present prices of
provisions without depriying the paupers OF
part of the prime necessities of life.
AS the criticism by the Grand Jury seemed
to reflect little upon the present Steward
at the poor house, we must say in his be-
half that his management throughout
since he has been at the poor house, has
been most excellent, aud that his integrity
stands above suspicion.
Our Office is open to any and all of the
taxpayers of the county. If any are not
satisfied with the foregoing explanation We
will take great pleasure In explaining any
thing that may be desired.
Yours respectfully,
]. JAMESON,
]. P. MCGEE,
A. o. NORRIS,
Poorl Comfy Commissioners